Firearm with detachable barrel mounting



Sept. 29, 1964 B. w. BROWNING FIREARM WITH DETACHABLE BARREL MOUNTING Gm m mm B w. W M R B Filed Dec. 11 1961 United States Patent 3,150,458FIREARM WITH DETACHABLE BARREL MOUNTING Bruce W. Browning, Ogden, Utah,assignor to Browning Industries, Inc, Ogden, Utah, a corporation of UtahFiled Dec. 11, 1961, Ser. No. 158,316 9 Claims. (61. 42--75) Thisinvention relates to firearms and more particularly to new and improvedmeans for detachably mounting a barrel upon the frame of a firearm.

It is an object of the present invention to provide novel and improvedmeans for detachably mounting a barrel upon the frame of a firearm,which mounting 'means is simple and highly effective in ensuring properalignment of the barrel upon the frame even after extensive usage so asto obviate the requirement for hand-fitting of the barrel to the frame.

It is also an object to provide an improved barrel mounting means thatfacilitates installation and removal of the barrel even by one who isunskilled so as to enable interchanging of barrels by the owner of thefirearm without special tools.

Another object is to provide such a detachable barrel mounting for apistol wherein a simple and relatively economical arrangement of partswhich is readily assembled provides a rigid support for the barrel uponthe frame and maintains proper alignment upon the frame during long andcontinuous operation of the pistol without the necessity for adjustmentafter initial installation.

A further object is to provide a detachable barrel mounting for firearmswhich is rugged, relatively economical and self-compensating for wearand which enables the replacement of the conventionally employed steelframes by frames constructed of a metal of lesser. strength than steelsuch as aluminum without affecting the firm retention of the barrel orits continuing alignment after extensive usage.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more indetail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the construction hereafter set forth and the scope of theapplication which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a partially exploded side view of a pistol incorporating thebarrel mounting of this invention, with parts shown partly broken awayand partly in section;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal cross-sectional view of the barrelmounting portion of the frame with the barrel shown in phantom asmounted thereon;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged transverse cross-sectional view of the pistoltaken substantially along the line 33 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary front end view of the pistol barrel and frameshowing the barrel positioned above the frame for installation thereon.

Referring to the attached drawing, the invention has been shown asembodied in a pistol having a barrel 1th with a bore 11 and a frame 12upon which the barrel is mounted as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. In theconventional manner, the pistol frame 12 has a grip portion 14, atrigger guard 16 and a trigger 17 pivotally mounted on the frame formovement therein. The slide 18 is supported upon the frame 12 inalignment with the barrel 10 for sliding movement rearwardly thereof inrecoil against the usual slide recoil spring (not shown) for ejecting aspent round from the firing chamber 20 and for movement forwardly by therecoil spring against the breech face 22 of the barrel. Also shownillustrated in FIG. 1 are a 3,150,458 Patented Sept. 29, 1964 safety 21engageable in the slot 23 of the slide and a slide stop open latch 25.

To provide firm support for the barrel on the frame 12 and to maintainthe barrel and its bore 11 in strict longitudinal alignment on theframe, the frame 12 has machined upon its upper edge a pair of elongatedways 24 extending longitudinally of the frame which are laterally spacedto opposite sides of and extend parallel to the horizontal center lineof the frame 12 and barrel bore 11. The ways 24 are received incooperating machined grooves 27 extending along the bottom edge of thebarrel 10.

In the illustrated embodiment, the configuration of the Ways 24 providesa pair of spaced vertically extending parallel faces 26 and a pair ofsupporting faces 28 inclined downwardly, preferably at an angle of 45,from adjacent the faces 26 toward the transverse center line of thepistol frame. The barrel grooves 27 receiving the ways 24 arecooperatively dimensioned and configured to form parallel plane faces 30which extend parallel to the vertical faces 26 and inclined supportingfaces 32 that rest upon the inclined supporting faces 28 of the ways.This construction provides an interfitting relationship of the barreland frame with a relatively large area of intersurface contact betweenthe inclined faces 28 and 32 of the frame and barrel, respectively.Through this interfitting support of the barrel by the frame upon theinclined faces, the barrel 10 is initially aligned upon the frame and isrestrained against pivotal and lateral movement on the frame 12, and anymovement of the barrel longitudinally of the frame will not affect thealignment of the barrel 10 with the slide 18 and the frame 12.

In the forward portion of the frame 12 between the ways 24 is anelongated well or slot '34 defined by a pair of parallel upright sidewalls 36. A pair of opposed slots 38 extend forwardly and downwardlyfrom the inclined supporting faces 28 along the sides of the well 34 atan acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the pistol. The opposed slots38 are defined in part by shoulder faces 40 which lie in a common planeextending at an angle to the longitudinal axis, preferably at an angleof about 30.

The barrel 10 has an integrally formed downwardly extending lug orprojection 42 having parallel side walls 44 and a transverse cylindricalopening 46 which snugly receives a generally cylindrical retaining pin48 having end portions 50 extending beyond the side walls 44 of the lugand into the opposed slots 38. The pin end portions 50 are partially cutaway to form flatened shoulders 52 that are in engagement with theinclined shoulder faces 40 for guiding or wedging the retaining pinwithin the slots 38. The retaining pin 48 is preferably locked into thelug opening 46 to prevent inadvertent disassembly, conven iently bystaking the lug side walls 44, preferably so that the pin is free torotate within the opening to ensure alignment of the shoulders 52 inface-to-face engagement with the slot faces 40.

The barrel 10 is readily assembled upon the frame 12 by retracting theslide 18 into the latched open position and by moving the barrel 10downwardly from a position above the ways 24, as seen in FIG. 4, untilthe retaining pin 48 with its shoulders 52 facing forwardly and upwardlyis received within the inclined slots 38. The barrel 10 is then guidedforwardly and downwardly until it rests solidly on the ways 24.

When seated, the barrel 10 is positively retained against rearwardmovement relative to the frame 12 by a roundheaded screw 56 extendingrearwardly and upwardly from the forward edge of the frame 12 below thebarrel 10 into threaded engagement with the lug 42. Preferably, the axisof the screw extends at an angle of approximately 15 to the longitudinalaxis of the barrel so as to substantially bisect the included angleformed by the plane 3 of the slots 38 and the longitudinal axis of thebarrel. A nylon lock washer 58 is used to overcome any tendency of thescrew 56 to become loosened after repeated firings of the pistol.

Upon forward longitudinal movement of the barrel 1%) relative to theframe 12, the barrel is cammed downwardly towards the frame by reason ofthe positive retention provided by the engagement of the screw 56 withthe lug 42 and the camming action of the retaining pin 48 and thedownwardly and forwardly inclined shoulder faces 40 of the slots 38.More particularly, upon such forward movement, the lug 42, through theretaining pin 48, is further cammed downwardly or inwardly of the well34 by the inclined shoulder faces 40, thus drawing the barrel moretightly against the frame 12 to ensure firm engagement.

Accordingly, a large part of the force on the barrel 10 due to thereturn engagement therewith by the slide 18 is resisted by frictionalcontact across the relatively large surface area of the inclinedsurfaces 32 and 28 provided by the barrel grooves 27 and ways 24,respectively, and only a small part of this forward force is effectivelytransmitted through the pin 48 and the shoulder faces 40 to the frame.As a result, only insignificant wear and distortion has been noted inthe pin 48 and shoulder faces 40 even after long and continuousoperation of the pistol and even when the frame is constructed of ametal having lesser strength than steel, such as aluminum. Moreover, anyforward movement of the barrel 10 on the ways 24 occasioned by a slightwearing of the pin 48 and shoulders 40 will not affect the correctalignment of the barrel with the slide 18 and frame.

It is, therefore, seen that the barrel mounting of this inventionprovides a firm support for the barrel, maintains the barrel in properalignment throughout long and continuous use of the firearm, and enablesthe barrel to be readily disassembled and assembled from the frame by aninexperienced person. Additionally, the barrel mounting is one which canbe economically constructed according to commercial tolerances and whichnevertheless will enable barrels to be interchanged and replaced withouthand fitting to provide excellent fit and alignment.

As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, various modificationsand adaptations of the structure above described will become readilyapparent without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention,the scope of which is defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A firearm having a frame, a barrel mounted on the frame, said frameand barrel having longitudinally extending interfitting portions incooperative engagement for supporting the barrel in longitudinalalignment on the frame, positive retention means connecting the barreland frame and maintaining the interfitting portions in cooperativeengagement, said positive retention means including means camming thebarrel toward the frame upon movement of the barrel forwardly of theframe, and means for moving the barrel forwardly relative to the frameduring the mounting of the barrel on the frame.

2. The firearm defined in claim 1 wherein the interfitting portions areformed by a pair of cooperating ways and grooves on the frame andbarrel.

3. A firearm having a frame, a barrel having a bore and mounted on saidframe, said frame and barrel having interfitting portions extendingparallel to said bore and in cooperative engagement for supporting thebarrel in longitudinal alignment on the frame, positive retention meansconnecting the barrel and frame and maintaining the interfittingportions in cooperative engagement, said positive retention meansincluding camming means interconnecting the barrel and frame to draw thebarrel towards the frame upon longitudinal movement of the barrelforwardly of the frame, and means for drawing the barrel forwardlyrelative to the frame during the mounting of the barrel on the frame.

4. A firearm having a frame member, a barrel member mounted on the framemember, said frame and barrel members having longitudinally extendinginterfitting portions in cooperative engagement for supporting thebarrel member against movement transversely of the frame member, andpositive retention means connecting the barrel and frame members andmaintaining the interfitting portions in cooperative engagement, saidpositive retention means including a vertically and forwardly inclinedcam surface on one member and a follower on the other member for wedgingthe interfitting portions of the barrel and the frame member togetherupon movement of the barrel member forwardly of the frame member wherebya force directed longitudinally forwardly on the barrel member istransmitted to the frame member through the positive retention means andthrough the interfitting portions of the barrel and frame members withincreased frictional engagement therebetween.

5. A firearm having a frame member, a barrel member mounted on saidframe member, said frame and barrel members having longitudinallyextending interfitting portions in cooperative engagement for supportingthe barrel member in longitudinal alignment with the frame member, andpositive retention means connecting the barrel and frame members andmaintaining the interfitting portions in cooperative engagement, saidpositive retention means including an elongated well in the frame memberbetween said interfitting portions and having side portions providingshoulders inclined downwardly and forwardly of the frame member and alateral projection on said barrel member cooperatively engaged with saidinclined shoulders to draw the barrel projection downwardly into thewell in the frame member upon movement of the barrel member forwardlyrelative to the frame member during mounting to wedge the interfittingportions of the barrel and frame members.

6. A firearm having a frame, a barrel mounted on the frame and having abore extending therethrough, said frame and barrel having a pair ofparallel spaced longitudinally extending interfitting ways and groovesin cooperative engagement for supporting the barrel on the frame againstmovement transversely thereof, said frame having an elongated slottherein between said pair of ways and grooves and a pair of opposedslots on opposite sides of said elongated slot inclined downwardly andforwardly of the frame and opening into said elongated slot, adownwardly extending lug on said barrel received in said elongated slotand having a transverse opening therein, and a retaining pin receivedwithin said lug opening and projecting from said lug transversely of theframe into said opposed slots to wedge the lug downwardly into saidelongated slot upon longitudinal movement of the barrel forwardly of theframe whereby a moment of force exerted longitudinally forwardly on thebarrel results in increased frictional engagement between theinterfitting ways and grooves.

7. The firearm defined in claim 6 wherein said interfitting ways andgrooves have vertical faces and opposed supporting faces inclinedtowards the center line of said frame.

8. A firearm comprising a frame, a barrel mounted on the frame andhaving a bore extending therethrough, said frame and barrel havingthereon a pair of longitudinally extending interfitting ways and groovesspaced to opposite sides of the center line of said barrel bore, saidframe having an elongated slot opening on the upper edge thereof andcentered with said pair of ways and grooves and a pair of opposed slotson opposite sides of said elongated slot, said pair of slots beinginclined downwardly and forwardly of the frame and opening into saidelongated slot, a downwardly extending lug on said barrel received insaid elongated slot, a pair of guides on said lug extending transverselyof the frame and received within said pair of opposed slots, and meansreleasably retaining the barrel against movement longitudinally of theframe,

5 6 said lug being cammed downwardly into said elongated rel includes ascrew extending from the forward end of slot upon movement of the barrelforwardly of the frame the frame rearwardly into threaded engagementwith the by engagement of the guides in said pair of opposed slotsbarrel. whereby a moment of force exerted longitudinally forwardly onthe barrel earns the lug inwardly of the frame 5 References Cited in thefile Of this Patent and thereby wedges the frame and barrel together forUNITED STATES PATENTS frictionally retarding the force on the barrel.

9. The firearm defined in claim 8 wherein the pair of 1565509 Lflrson1921 2,817,174 Lledke Dec. 24, 1957 opposed slots are inclmed at anangle of substantrally 2 958 974 Sefried Nov 8 1960 30, and wherein themeans releasably retaining the bar- 10

1. A FIREARM HAVING A FRAME, A BARREL MOUNTED ON THE FRAME, SAID FRAMEAND BARREL HAVING LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING INTERFITTING PORTIONS INCOOPERATIVE ENGAGEMENT FOR SUPPORTING THE BARREL IN LONGITUDINALALIGNMENT ON THE FRAME, POSITIVE RETENTION MEANS CONNECTING THE BARRELAND FRAME AND MAINTAINING THE INTERFITTING PORTIONS IN COOPERATIVEENGAGEMENT, SAID POSITIVE RETENTION MEANS INCLUDING MEANS CAMMING THEBARREL TOWARD THE FRAME UPON MOVEMENT OF THE BARREL FORWARDLY OF THEFRAME, AND MEANS FOR MOVING THE BARREL FORWARDLY RELATIVE TO THE FRAMEDURING THE MOUNTING OF THE BARREL ON THE FRAME.